Emails which claim Microsoft MSN accounts holders should update their account or else their accounts will be permanently shut down are phishing scams being sent by cybercriminals to steal Microsoft Hotmail, Live or Outlook usernames and passwords. The cybercriminals intentions are to gain access to their potential victims' accounts, hijack and use them fraudulently.
Sample of the "Microsoft Account Update" Phishing Email
From: M S N Account <dmudancesociety@hotmail.co.uk>
Sent: Sunday, October 1, 2017 9:55:08 AM
To: noreply@update.net
Subject: Update request
FINAL 2017 UPDATE
Our record indicates your account is not updated, which may lead to the permanent shut down of your account if you refuse to update your account within 24 hrs of receiving this notice.
Take a second to update your account below and enjoy our new features
Please follow the steps below for your upgrade process.
1. Upgrade my email
2. You can also add more security features
Thanks
The email security team
The link in the email message goes to a fake Microsoft Hotmail website, which will attempt to trick the potential victims into entering their usernames and passwords on it. If the potential victims enter their Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail, Live usernames, and passwords on the fake website, the information will be sent to the cyber-criminals behind the email scam, who will use the information to hijack the victims' accounts.
If you receive email messages like these, please go directly to your email account instead of clicking on the links in the email messages. If there is anything wrong with your account or something needs to be done to it, it will be shown to you after you have signed into your account. If you were tricked by one of these malicious phishing scams, please change your Hotmail, Live or Outlook immediately. If you are unable to, click here to report it to Microsoft.